Integrated near-infrared spectral sensing

Spectral sensing is increasingly used in applications ranging from industrial process monitoring to agriculture. Sensing is usually performed by measuring reflected or transmitted light with a spectrometer and processing the resulting spectra. However, realizing compact and mass-manufacturable spectrometers is a major challenge, particularly in the infrared spectral region where chemical information is most prominent. Here we propose a different approach to spectral sensing which dramatically simplifies the requirements on the hardware and allows the monolithic integration of the sensors. We use an array of resonant-cavity-enhanced photodetectors, each featuring a distinct spectral response in the 850-1700 nm wavelength range. We show that prediction models can be built directly using the responses of the photodetectors, despite the presence of multiple broad peaks, releasing the need for spectral reconstruction. The large etendue and responsivity allow us to demonstrate the application of an integrated near-infrared spectral sensor in relevant problems, namely milk and plastic sensing. Our results open the way to spectral sensors with minimal size, cost and complexity for industrial and consumer applications.

First Report and 3D Reconstruction of a Presumptive Microscopic Liver Lipoma in a Black Barbel (Barbus balcanicus) from the River Bregalnica in the Republic of North Macedonia

A lipoma is a benign tumour of mature adipocytes which may appear in various species, including marine and freshwater fish. It usually occurs in isolated locations, such as a superficial or deep mass, mainly in the skin and seldom in other organs. In non-mammalian vertebrates, there is no agreed minimal size for the mass to be considered a lipoma. This study histologically describes a case proposed to be a microlipoma in the liver of Barbus balcanicus. The structure was an oval-shaped mass of well-differentiated adipocytes, surrounded by hepatic parenchyma. The adipocyte cluster did not contact with major vascular or biliary tracts, the liver capsule, or the hilum. The cell mass reached a maximal linear length and width of ~0.5 mm and ~0.4 mm. A three-dimensional and software-assisted reconstruction of the adipocytic mass showed that it had the shape of a flattened prolate spheroid (~0.01 mm3). Given the histological criteria currently used in the literature, we consider the mass as a lipoma, or, better, a microlipoma because it was tiny. We interpret this structure as an early growing lipoma. This work is the second description of a liver lipoma in a fish to the best of our knowledge.

An Efficient Geometric Search Algorithm of Pandemic Boundary Detection

We consider a scenario where the pandemic infection rate is inversely proportional to the power of the distance between the infected region and the non-infected region. In our study, we analyze the case where the exponent of the distance is 2, which is in accordance with Reilly’s law of retail gravitation. One can test for infection but such tests are costly so one seeks to determine the region of infection while performing few tests. Our goal is to find a boundary region of minimal size that contains all infected areas. We discuss efficient algorithms and provide the asymptotic bound of the testing cost and simulation results for this problem.

Base sizes of primitive permutation groups

Let G be a permutation group, acting on a set $$\varOmega $$ Ω of size n. A subset $${\mathcal {B}}$$ B of $$\varOmega $$ Ω is a base for G if the pointwise stabilizer $$G_{({\mathcal {B}})}$$ G ( B ) is trivial. Let b(G) be the minimal size of a base for G. A subgroup G of $$\mathrm {Sym}(n)$$ Sym ( n ) is large base if there exist integers m and $$r \ge 1$$ r ≥ 1 such that $${{\,\mathrm{Alt}\,}}(m)^r \unlhd G \le {{\,\mathrm{Sym}\,}}(m)\wr {{\,\mathrm{Sym}\,}}(r)$$ Alt ( m ) r ⊴ G ≤ Sym ( m ) ≀ Sym ( r ) , where the action of $${{\,\mathrm{Sym}\,}}(m)$$ Sym ( m ) is on k-element subsets of $$\{1,\dots ,m\}$$ { 1 , ⋯ , m } and the wreath product acts with product action. In this paper we prove that if G is primitive and not large base, then either G is the Mathieu group $$\mathrm {M}_{24}$$ M 24 in its natural action on 24 points, or $$b(G)\le \lceil \log n\rceil +1$$ b ( G ) ≤ ⌈ log n ⌉ + 1 . Furthermore, we show that there are infinitely many primitive groups G that are not large base for which $$b(G) > \log n + 1$$ b ( G ) > log n + 1 , so our bound is optimal.

Minimal Size of Counters for (Real-Time) Multicounter Automata

We show that, for automata using a finite number of counters, the minimal space that is required for accepting a nonregular language is (log n)ɛ. This is required for weak space bounds on the size of their counters, for real-time and one-way, and for nondeterministic and alternating versions of these automata. The same holds for two-way automata, independent of whether they work with strong or weak space bounds, and of whether they are deterministic, nondeterministic, or alternating. (Here ɛ denotes an arbitrarily small—but fixed—constant; the “space” refers to the values stored in the counters, rather than to the lengths of their binary representation.) On the other hand, we show that the minimal space required for accepting a nonregular language is nɛ for multicounter automata with strong space bounds, both for real-time and one-way versions, independent of whether they are deterministic, nondeterministic, or alternating, and also for real-time and one-way deterministic multicounter automata with weak space bounds. All these bounds are optimal both for unary and general nonregular languages. However, for automata equipped with only one counter, it was known that one-way nondeterministic automata cannot recognize any unary nonregular languages at all, even if the size of the counter is not restricted, while, with weak space bound log n, we present a real-time nondeterministic automaton recognizing a binary nonregular language here.

Focused ultrasound of the caudal vena cava in dogs with cavitary effusions or congestive heart failure: A prospective, observational study

Introduction Ultrasonographic indices of the inferior vena cava are useful for predicting right heart filling pressures in people. Objectives To determine whether ultrasonographic indices of caudal vena cava (CVC) differ between dogs with right-sided CHF (R-CHF), left-sided CHF (L-CHF), and noncardiac causes of cavitary effusion (NC). Materials and methods 113 dogs diagnosed with R-CHF (n = 51), L-CHF (30), or NC effusion (32) were enrolled. Seventeen of the R-CHF dogs had pericardial effusion and tamponade. Focused ultrasound was performed prospectively to obtain 2-dimensional and M-mode subxiphoid measures of CVC maximal and minimal size (CVCmax and CVCmin), CVCmax indexed to aortic dimension (CVC:Ao), and CVC collapsibility index (CVC-CI). Variables were compared between study groups using Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn’s-Bonferroni testing, and receiver operating characteristics curves were used to assess sensitivity and specificity. Results All sonographic CVC indices were significantly different between R-CHF and NC dogs (P < 0.001). Variables demonstrating the highest diagnostic accuracy for discriminating R-CHF versus NC were CVC-CI <33% in 2D (91% sensitive and 96% specific) and presence of hepatic venous distension (84% sensitive and 90% specific). L-CHF dogs had higher CVC:Ao and lower CVC-CI compared to NC dogs (P = 0.016 and P = 0.043 in 2D, respectively) but increased CVC-CI compared to the R-CHF group (P < 0.001). Conclusions Ultrasonographic indices of CVC size and collapsibility differed between dogs with R-CHF compared to NC causes of cavitary effusions. Dogs with L-CHF have CVC measurements intermediate between R-CHF and NC dogs.

Minicircles for Investigating and Treating Arthritic Diseases

Gene delivery systems have become an essential component of research and the development of therapeutics for various diseases. Minicircles are non-viral vectors with promising characteristics for application in a variety of fields. With their minimal size, minicircles exhibit relatively high safety and efficient delivery of genes of interest into cells. Cartilage tissue lacks the natural ability to heal, making it difficult to treat osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which are the two main types of joint-related disease. Although both OA and RA affect the joint, RA is an autoimmune disease, while OA is a degenerative joint condition. Gene transfer using minicircles has also been used in many studies regarding cartilage and its diseased conditions. In this review, we summarize the cartilage-, OA-, and RA-based studies that have used minicircles as the gene delivery system.

On Two Methods to Computate the Trapezoidal Characteristic of Automatics for Elimination of Asynchronous Operation Based on Equal-Step Data

The paper presents two methods to compute the trapezoidal characteristic of automatics for elimination of asynchronous operation (AEAO). The source data are hodographs of asynchronous operations (AO hodographs). Every AO hodograph is an array of active and reactive resistances values, which have been received or calculated with equal time step. The first method is based on the phase increase of characteristic size without proportions sacrificing of sensitive and coarse elements of the characteristic (trapeze). Trapeze bases are stretched as long as we have unfixed AO hodographs for AEAO. The second method is based on narrowing the coarse characteristic element without sacrificing the initial size of the sensitive element. Both methods are iterative homogenous operations algorithms. These homogenous operations are necessary to compute the cha­racteristic with minimal size and keep constraints for AEAO. The main emphasis of the characteristic computation is on keeping the sensitivity constraints and fixing the AO hodographs. These methods are used to build up a software. The paper also describes a computational experiment based on actual data. The experiment showed these methods are effective when calculating the AEAO sets. Experts on electrical modes can use these methods to adjust the AEAO with trapezoidal characteristic.

Different levels of morphophysiological seed dormancy in Ribes alpinum and R. uva-crispa (Grossulariaceae) facilitate adaptation to differentiated habitats

Aim of the study: To study the germination ecology of two species of the genus Ribes to reveal their levels of morphophysiological dormancy (MPD) and to facilitate the production of plants from seeds, a key tool for population reinforcement.Area of study: Experiments were carried out both outdoors and in the laboratory in Albacete (Spain) with seeds from the Meridional Iberian System mountain range.Material and methods: Seeds from one population of Ribes alpinum and from other of Ribes uva-crispa were collected during several years. Embryo length, radicle and seedling emergence, and effects on germination of stratification and GA3 were analysed to determine the level of MPD.Main results: In R. alpinum, embryo length in fresh seeds was 0.49 mm, needing to grow to 1.30 mm to germinate. Warm stratification (25/10ºC) promoted embryo length enlargement to 0.97 mm. Afterwards, seeds germinated within a wide temperature range. Embryo growth and seedling emergence occur late summer-early autumn. In R. uva-crispa, embryo length in fresh seeds was 0.52 mm, being 2.10 mm the minimal size to germinate. Embryos exposed to a moderately warm stratification (20/7ºC + 15/4ºC) followed by cold (5ºC) grew to 2.30 mm. Then, seeds germinated ≥ 80% when incubated at temperatures ≥ 15/4ºC. Embryos grew in autumn/early winter, and seedlings emerged late winter-early spring.Research highlights: These results showed that R. alpinum seeds have a nondeep simple MPD while R. uva-crispa seeds have a nondeep complex MPD. Moreover, the different germinative models found for each species help explain their installation in distinct habitats.Keywords: Ribes; seed dormancy break; radicle emergence; seedling emergence; nondeep simple and nondeep complex MPD.Abbreviations used: Morphophysiological dormancy (MPD), morphological dormancy (MD), Gibberellic acid (GA3), months (m).